It’s a dark reminder of how awful men can be – particularly as Peterson owns her sexuality so thoroughly here, owns her behaviour, and describes so many scenarios where, as a teen, she was able to call time on an encounter. The way she writes it is subtle and measured – but still carries the right sting. Of Chamberlain though, she explains the power imbalance (he was 7ft 1 and 300 pounds) and wonders how many of the 20,000 were happy notches and how many were victims. You can’t guard against that, nor should you have to. The only thing wrong she did in this story was be there. She owns her mistakes – when they were hers. The assault that Peterson mentions in her book is a shocking reminder of toxic masculinity of the many things somehow justified as being ‘from a different time’. Now, long deceased, Chamberlain was a legend on and off the court and his own memoir boasts of some 20,000 sexual conquests. There’s also the cautionary tale of running into basketball legend, Wilt Chamberlain. Eventually on the front cover of a Tom Waits album. She describes innocent groupie-dom, being so hooked on the music that she dresses ‘older’ but of course appeals for being much younger meeting Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. A traumatic childhood event – scarred by boiling water – left her with reasons to dress up, to cover parts of her body with wigs and make-up to be flamboyant and ‘out there’ but always under the cover of a persona. Peterson learned to hide behind characters long before Elvira – she was basically playing one on various platforms and in cages and on dancefloors in clubs all across Sin City. Working the hats and coats, dancing go-go, dalliances with Elvis Presley and Tom Jones. Running away as a teen – to Vegas to be a showgirl. So I was excited about Peterson’s memoir.

(The only place for Gene Simmons by the way). She is a licensing queen – to put Gene Simmons to shame.

And what a talent – she has proper improv training, actual comic timing and many things going for her as well as a genuine love of horror and music and of course she recognised early on how to use her best assets. The character of “Elvira” played now for 40 years by Cassandra Peterson is a legend – a genuine pop-cultural phenomenon. She was referenced in other films and TV shows…. She was in comic books and there were cardboard cut-outs in the video store. What wasn’t to like? I was a fan of Elvira before I really understand her role. She popped up in pro-wrestling ( Wrestlemania II) and was a fan of, and tagged alongside, horror movies and heavy metal. We played the video game, we watched the movie. Growing up, Elvira: Mistress of The Dark was everywhere. Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark

Elvira memoir